A North Carolina man was arrested Saturday after threatening to harm Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) employees who were aiding in the Hurricane Helene recovery effort, according to the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office.

FEMA agents are standing down across parts of western North Carolina and canceling some meetings because of threats to staff members, according to some local agencies in the region. Ashe County Emergency Management said FEMA canceled events in the area due to threats that were received in other parts of

Several FEMA locations have reopened in western North Carolina after being forced to pause aid over reported threats toward responders. WRAL News received reports of Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) workers being threatened as they work to help victims of Hurricane Helene.

An inspection agency that works as a contractor for FEMA ordered its employees in western North Carolina to cease inspections over the weekend and return to hotels, WBTV has confirmed.